Pumping system



E. L. CARLIN PUMPING SYSTEM Feb. 19, 1929.

Filed May 1 9, 1927 L11/l l lll INY DF.

ww mi TTEIENELY'E trative of a general Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES EARLE I.. cAnLIN, F PEQRIA, ILLINOIS.l

PUMPING SYSTEM.

Applieation mea may 19,

This invention relates to pumping systems for filling stations. u

One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of apumping system for gasoline filling stations, whereby any vaccumulation of water in the pump or pipe lines connected with the main container may he readily returned to the main container and said container emptied with the minimum of effort.

Another object lies in the provision of manually adjustable mechanism associated with the main container in a gasoline filling station system and the pipe connections with the pump member, which permit the return of any wat-er in the pipe line to the main container', whereby said container may be quickly cleansed and filled with gasoline of proper test. v i Y Still another object lies in the provision of a system for` draining the pipe lines connecting a pump and main container of a gasoline pumping system, to prevent the accumulation of water in the lines and the consequent possibility of freezing and preventing proper operation of the pump. l

A further object liesin the provision of mechanism associated with the check valve in an ordinary pumping and pipe line system of a gasoline filling station, whereby said check valve may be manually raised from its seat, permitting a draining back of any water that may have accumulated in the system, and a consequent ease in emptying thev main container. and filling same with gasoline of proper test.

Other objects will appear in the following specification, taken inl connection with the annexed drawings, in which The figure is an elevational view, partially in section, showing the general pumping system of an ordinary gasoline filling station,

with applicants manually operated means for raising a check valve in the gasoline line to permit the draining back of any water and gas accumulation inthe line between the check valve and the pump, and also to assist in dislodging any foreign matter that may settle in the check valve.

Before referring specifically tothe drawings, itmight be stated'that the figure is illusarrangement of gasoline filling the tanks of motor vehicles. In connection with this showing is applicants manually operable mechanism connectedwith the main container and check valve mechanism, whereby said check pump that is used in 1927. Serial No. 192,537.

valve may be raised manually to permit the draining back of any unnatural accumulation of gas and water in the fuel line between the main container and pump, this draining back preventing the freezing of the water in the line and therefore obviating thenecessity of raising all of the pipe line between the main container and 'pump for the purpose of emptying same. v

Applicant lherein has been, for a number of years, in charge of construction and repair of filling stations for a well known oil company which has thousands of filling stations throughout the country. During his eX- perience, he has found it necessary in a great many instances, dueto the fact that there is at times water in the gasoline, to repair not only the pumps, due to the freezing of water in the base thereof, but also to dig out the pipe connect-ions between the pump and the main container for the purpose of removing the ice which has formed from the water accumulated therein.

In all systems for pump-ing gasoline from a main container to a pump in the conventional filling station, every effort is expended to avoid collection of water in the pipe lines between the main container and the pump, as well asin the base of the pump. The base of the pump and the pipe lines are obviously at all times completely filled with gasoline, if the pump is operating efficiently, and, in oase of an accumulation of water either within the pipe line or base of the pump during cold weather, same is liable to freeze and, as stated before, not only require tearing down of the pump, but ralso digging out of the pipe connections between the pump and the main container. f i i Applicant has been in charge of construction gangs which have raisedr these lines many times. Under ordinary circumstances, as is well known, these lines would not only be placed beneath the surface of the ground, but same would be covered with cement, therefore making the raising of the lines not only a difcult, but an expensive, operation. Applicant has devised the following means, which is not only manually operable, but is designed absolutely to permit suchvdraining of the pipe line between the base of the pump and the main container as to allow flowing back into the main container of the gasoline, and water that may be mixed with the gasoline in these lines. 1 i

Inasmuch as the manually or automatically controlled pump mechanism is so well known, only the piston and valve mechanism therein has been shown in the present instance, and it is apparent that reciprocation of the valve creates a vacuum which induces the flow of gasoline from the main container to the pump.

In the drawings, there is .shown the base 10, which is conventional to substantially every type of gasoline station pump. This base is at all times filled with gasoline and communicates with the cylinder 11 of the` pump (not shown). Within the cylinder there is the piston 12 and the small relief valve 13. Obviously, reciprocation cf this piston within the cylinder creates a vacuum which raises the gasoline from the main container and causes same to be drawn through the fuel supply lines later to be described. A

main gasoline container is shown at 1d, disposed, in accordance with local fire regulations a certain distance beneath the surface of the ground, at the point designated 15. A conventional filling portion 1t connects the main container 1/1 with the .surface level 17 there being a pivoted cap member 18 disposed over the end thereof and ordinarily locked against unauthorized entry.

The connecting means between the base l() of the conventional pump and the main container, comprises a pipe 19 extending to a point 2O adjacent the bottom of the main container, said pipe having the gas and air tight connection 21 with the main container. A joint 22 of ordinary construction connects the pipe 19 with a second supply pipe 23, which is screw threaded, as at 211, into the joint 22, and as at 26 into an adjustable connecting portion 25. The adjustable member has a portion 27 thereof threaded, as at 28, into the base of the pump before described as 10. This connecting pipe 23, as shown in the present drawings, is very short. However, in the ordinary gasoline pumping system for filling stations, this pipe, or series of pipes, is naturally of considerable length, due to the fact that the main container is usually disposed at some distance from the pumps for purposes of safety.

1n the joint 22 is disposed a conventional check valve 29 resting on the seat 30, and being adapted to be moved therefrom only during the suction action of the pump. A second and similar check valve 31 is disposed in the base of the pump 10, and likewise rests on a conventional seat 32.

As far as the above described system is concerned, same is common to practically all filling stations. However, applicant has connected to this system the following means for manually raising the check valve 29 from the seat 30, said valve being` ordinarily raised only during the suction action of the pump, or in case the supply pipes are raised manually.

A pipe 33 is threaded at its lower end, as 34, in the top of the main container in an air and gas tight manner, the upper end of said pipe opening above the surface of the ground, the upper level of the ground being laid with cement, as shown at 35. The open end of the pipe 33 is covered with a close fitting cap member 36, capable of being removed when desired. Disposed within the pipe 33, with the upper end thereof projectingr slightly above the open end of said pipe,

is a check valve raising lever 37 projecting downwardly to the bottom of the tank, where same bent, as at 33 and 39, to permit the other end thereof to be projected in a vertical manner, as at 40, to a point 41 adjacent the lower end 42 of the check valve 29..

As respects the operation of applicants present system, reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder 11 results in the raising of the check valve 31 and 29 from off their seats and the suction of gasoline from the main containerl not only into the intermediate supply line 23, but also into the base 10 of the pump, and as a matter of fact filling the pump. Following the suction stroke, the check valves assume their normal seated position, and thereupon preventthe draining back of gasoline, not only from the base 10 and from the pump itself, but also from the line 23 into the main container.

As stated several times before, the connecting line between the check valves 29 and 31 is always filled with gasoline, as well as the base l0 of the pump, and the pump itself.

-llillien the system of a gasoline lilling station is operating efliciently, the above mentioned pump operation occurs intermittently, without the necessity of any attention to the system. However, during cold weather, whenever there is any water in the gasoline, the water being heavier than gas, goes to the bot-tom, and accumulates in the base 10v of the pump. Irrespective of how much gasoline is pumped, the water being heavier than gasoline, accumulates in the bottom of the pump, and if the temperature drops suiiiciently, it will freeze in the base 10, and prevent eliicient operation of the pump, necessitating repair thereto. In many instances, the pumps are torn down and the ice removed from the base, the pump thereafter again installed and permitted to operate in the ordinary and usual manner.

Applicants present mechanism does not obviate the necessity of repairing the pump in cases where water freezes in the base there-` of. However, not only is there a liability of freezing in the base of the pump, but if any water accumulates between thev checl valves 29 and 31, it is liable to freeze within the-communicating pipe 23. Any freezing ofv water in this pipe also prevents etlicient operation of the pump andk causes immediate necessity of digging out the lines, and removing the ice CII therefrom. Also, if the pump is repaired, but the Water not entirely removed therefrom, the neXt operation of the pump Will again draw Water into the base, causing additional repair to be required. This may continue indefinitely unless the Water is drained from the suction line.

In the present instance, as stated before, it has been heretofore necessary to dig up the pipe lines, clean same and thereafter place them in the ground. Applicant has been in charge of this Work, as stated before, for a Well known company, and. in an endeavor to obviate the necessity of raising these lines When it is known that Water has accumulated between the check valves, has devised the' above described manually operated mechanism for raising the check valve 29 and therefore permitting the combined gasoline and Water to drain back into the main container 14.

With applicants structure, this is Very easy and all that is necessary is to unscrew cap 36, raise the lever 37 manually until the combined gasoline and Water has drained back into the main tank, then release the lever, remove the cap `from the cover 18 of the pipe 16, insert any kind of pump therein, either hand or automatic, and remove the accumulated Water from the bottom of the main container 14. Thereafter, the main container 14 may be again filled with gasoline of proper test and the system readily placed in operation, Without the loss of any considerable time.

From the above, it may be clearly seen that not only Will a great amount of manual labor be saved in repairing stations, but Whenever it is found that there is any Water in the lines, same may be quickly drained and the entire system again placed in efficient operation, Without any considerable loss in time of the operation of the pump.

What I claim is:

1. A gasoline pumping system, comprising a pump, a main container, a pipe line connecting the pump and themain container, a check valve disposed in the base of the pump, a second check valve disposed in connection with the main container, and a lever adapted to raise the second checkvalve from its seat to permit draining of the pipe line into the main container When there is an accumulation of Water therein, said lever including a port-ion disposed in a manner to be manually grasped and operated, Without disturbance of the pipe line or main container.

2. A gasoline pumping system, comprising a pump member, a main container disposed beneath the ground, a buried pipe line connecting the pump and main container, check valves in said pipe line for holding the gasoline therein, a manually operable lever mechanism associated With one of said check valves in a manner to permit draining of the gasoline and any accumulation of Water mixed therewith from the pipe line into the main container, whereby same may be removed and the main container filled with pure gasoline.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EARLEv L. CARLIN. 

